In Manhattan, New York, a murder mystery is unfolding as police sources provide more details about the tragic death of Nadia Vitels, 52. The Joint Fugitive Task Force is actively seeking two suspects in connection with the killing that took place in her mother’s New York City apartment in the Kips Bay neighborhood. Reports indicate that the suspects were squatters who had been residing in the vacant apartment.
Vitels, who had traveled from Spain to prepare the apartment for a family friend, was unaware of the squatters living there. Surveillance footage captured her entering and exiting the apartment upon her arrival. Police believe that the suspects returned to the apartment, encountering Vitels and brutally beating her to death. Her body was later discovered in a duffel bag in the front closet of the apartment on the 19th floor of the building on 31st Street.
The medical examiner confirmed that Vitels’ death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head. The suspects, who were not acquainted with Vitels, were spotted stealing her Lexus from the street outside the apartment before fleeing the scene. The stolen vehicle was eventually involved in an accident in Pennsylvania. Following the crash, the suspects sought to purchase a car from used car dealers and currently remain at large.
Friends and family of Vitels were taken aback by the tragedy, with her son, Michael Medvedev, expressing his profound grief during her funeral. Medvedev recounted his mother’s enthusiasm for moving to the city and her unwavering support for his entrepreneurial endeavors. He fondly remembered her as a smart, selfless, and resourceful woman who had a penchant for travel and adventure.
As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone with information to come forward by contacting the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or submitting tips online. The profound impact of Vitels’ untimely death echoes through the memories of those who knew and loved her, underscoring the tragic loss experienced by her family and friends.